KUALA LUMPUR: On Jan 31, the High Court will hear a discovery application by Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his family to seek permission to physically inspect items allegedly purchased using funds siphoned from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), which were seized from them last year.
The application was made in relation to a forfeiture suit filed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) over hundreds of items, including branded handbags and 27 vehicles seized from the former prime minister, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, their three children and 13 individuals and companies.
In their application, Najib, Rosmah and their daughter Nooryana Najwa, are seeking to be allowed to physically inspect the items seized by police, as the pictures of them provided by the prosecution are “not clear”.
Najib’s counsel, Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee, said that they had filed an affidavit enclosing the photos of the items for the court’s reference.
“However, the pictures are not clear,” he said.
Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan then ordered for the applicants (Najib, Rosmah and Nooryana) to file their additional affidavits by Nov 28, and fixed Dec 12 for submissions.
Meanwhile, case management for the forfeiture suit has been fixed for Feb 14, next year.
On Oct 14, the prosecution had agreed to provide colour pictures of the seized items, as well as their detailed descriptions – such as the product labels, logos, gift cards and packaging – of the portable properties which were seized on May 17, last year, to the former prime minister and his family.
Among the items are 315 handbags of various luxury brands, 14 watches and 27 pairs of shoes of various brands, as well as cash in various currencies, including RM537,000, £2,700, 2,870,000 Sri Lanka rupees, RM187,750 in old notes and £320,500.
On May 30, the High Court allowed the prosecution to gazette a notice to any third party with interests in the assets seized from the former prime minister, his family, 13 others and several companies.
The court allowed the prosecution’s application under Section 56 and 61(2) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
Upon publication of the notice, any third party which claims to have any interest in the property will be required to appear before the court, or through their lawyer, on a specified date to show cause as to why the property should not be forfeited.